State Bar Board Update • March 2025

Directors Approve President-elect Candidates, Advance Proposed Budget

Written by Lowell Brown

Above from left: State Bar President Steve Benesh presented resolutions honoring Austin attorney Bruce P. Bower and retired Judge Lora J. Livingston. Photos by Patricia Busa McConnico.

The State Bar of Texas Board of Directors voted to approve two candidates for president-elect and moved the bar’s 2025- 2026 proposed budget a step closer to approval, during its quarterly meeting on January 24 in Austin.

Highlights of the meeting appear below. Watch video of the meeting and read the agenda and meeting materials at texasbar.com/board.

President-elect Race

Directors approved Deborah L. Cordova, of Edinburg, and G. David Smith, of Rockwall, as 2025-2026 president- elect candidates, adopting the recommendations of the Nominations and Elections Subcommittee. Cordova and Smith will appear on the ballot in April along with any certified petition candidates. Members interested in running as a petition candidate for president-elect must submit nominating petitions for certification by March 3.

Finance and Budget

The board approved the State Bar’s fiscal year 2025-2026 proposed budget for publication in the Texas Bar Journal (see pages 205-209). A more detailed breakdown of expenditures by category is available at texasbar.com/finances. The bar will hold a public hearing at 9 a.m. March 25 at the Texas Law Center in Austin before presenting a budget proposal to the Supreme Court of Texas for consideration.

The proposed budget includes a 10% dues rate increase to help address the effects of inflation—the first increase in State Bar dues since 1991. Effective June 1, annual membership dues will be adjusted as follows: licensed less than 3 years: $68 to $74 ($6 increase), licensed 3-5 years: $148 to $162 ($14 increase), licensed more than 5 years: $235 to $258 ($23 increase), inactive attorneys: $50 to $55 ($5 increase), emeritus attorneys: $0 (no change). For answers to frequently asked questions about the dues increase, go to texasbar.com/finances and click on “Dues Increase FAQs.”

The board also approved the bar’s financial audit for fiscal year 2023-2024. The State Bar received an unmodified, or “clean,” opinion for its financial audit.

MCLE Regulations

The board approved the Minimum Continuing Legal Education Committee’s recommendation to change Section 2.1.2 of the Texas MCLE Regulations on accredited CLE activities to include credit for attorneys participating in arbitration, alternative dispute resolution, mediation, transactional, client counseling, and negotiation competitions. The board also approved the MCLE committee’s recommendation to amend Section 1.3 of the Texas MCLE Regulations to change the title of the Texas Center for Legal Ethics required course from “The Guide to the Basics of Law Practice” to the current title of “The Justice James A. Baker Guide to Ethics and Professionalism.”

Court Rules

The board approved the Administration Committee’s recommendation regarding the Court Rules Committee’s proposed amendments to Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 500.2(p) to remove uncertainty whether an order is interlocutory or final. Directors also approved the Administration Committee’s recommendation regarding the Court Rules Committee’s proposed amendments to Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure 9.9(e) regarding the responsibility of parties and counsel to redact sensitive information in filed documents to align with the Supreme Court’s Guidelines for the Submission of Documents and with current language from Texas Rule of Appellate Procedure 9.10(e). The board withdrew for further study a proposal regarding Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 500.2(ac) clarifying the procedure for dismissals stemming from discovery sanction orders.

Strategic Plan

The board approved an updated, five-year strategic plan, which can be read at texasbar.com/governingdocuments.

Day of Civility Resolution

Directors approved a resolution joining the Supreme Court of Texas and Texas Court of Criminal Appeals in designating April 10, 2025, as the Texas Day of Civility in the Law and encouraging lawyers to participate in local programs that focus on the aspirations included in the Texas Lawyer’s Creed.

Ombudsman Report

The ombudsman for the attorney discipline system, Stephanie Lowe, presented her office’s annual report, which is available at texasbar.com/annualreports.

Board Chair Election

Six candidates for 2025-2026 chair of the board addressed directors: Britney E. Harrison, of Dallas; Kristina N. Kastl, of Dallas; Rudolph K. Metayer, of Austin; Rosalind V.O. Perez, of Victoria; Shannon A.S. Quadros, of Houston; and Michael J. Wynne, of Houston. The board will vote in April to elect its chair.

Recognitions

State Bar President Steve Benesh presented resolutions honoring Austin attorney Bruce P. Bower and retired Judge Lora J. Livingston. State Bar Executive Director Trey Apffel presented Staff Excellence Awards to Michael DeLeon, purchasing and facilities director, and Edward Morgan, operations manager.

Looking Ahead

The board’s next meeting is scheduled for April 25 in Sugar Land. Email comments for the board to boardofdirectors@texasbar.com. Find your district directors by going to texasbar.com/board and clicking on “Board Members.”